Automobile lock



June 30, 1931. A. R. SMITH AUTOMOBILE LOCK Filed Aug. 7, 1928 3 W0 an;

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Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTg OFFICE ANTHONY Rl SMITH',l OF ELYRIA, OHIO, .ASSIGNOR TO STEEL AND TUBES, INC., OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO AUTOMOBILE LOCK Application led August 7, 1928.

This invention relates to an improved locking' device for the transmission mechanism of.`p'owerv devices. More particularly it relates to an improved construction of gear shift'. levers of the type which can be locked to prevent manipulation of a gear shift element.- A

It. isr advantageous to construct gear shift levers so that a portion thereof can alten natively bei operatively engaged with or disengaged from. a gear' shift element and the portion" locked in its disengaged position to prevent manipulation of the gear shift4 element. Itisfurther desirable to normally 11i` cau'sei. the saidA portion of the gear shift lever to"F bei automatically forced into engagement with the gear shift element and be automatically latched in this position.

It is an object of this invention to provide an: improved construction of gear shift lever whereby the locking device therefor is operated fromk within the lever into locked engagement therewith.

Itis a further object to provide a gear shift lever in whicha portion thereof is normally forcedinto operativeengagement with a gear shi-ft element and automatically latched in thislposition.

Other objects', will be' apparent from the y specification and from the accompanying drawings`r in which latter:

Fig; 1 is aside elevation partly in section of a device embodying my invention.y

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of theaupper'partofthe lever showing the handie withdrawn and locked position.

Fig; 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the: upper portion of the. lever showing the handle; in withdrawn position and showing the. slot and key guide mechanism.

Fig; 4; is a longitudinal sectional. view of the upper portion. of the lever showing the handle in itslower positionzand. the latching device; in operative position.

5, is. a transverse sectional view taken along, the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 showing the 1"'at'cl'1ing device in inoperative position.

Fig. 6' is a transverse sectional view taken along' the line 6`6 of Fig. 4 showing the 5U." latcl'r in operative position.

Serial No. 297,968.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Figure 1.

Referring particularly to the drawings, in its preferred embodiment the device comprises a. housing 1 adapted in its lower portion to fit on the gear case of an automobile, the upper portion being restricted and more or less circularly formed and provided with an inwardly extending flange 2 suitably shaped to receive the ball-like member 3 of a ball and socket joint or pivot. This mem- G0. ber 3 is held in place on the flange 2 by a coil spring 4 resting thereon and bearing against a top cap 5 which is also preferably curved to correspond with the curvature ofthe lower surface of the member 3 and which is held in 65 place by a suitably shaped retainer 6 pinned to the housing 1 by pins 7. Preferably the pins 7 project inwardly beyond the retainer 6 and seat in grooves in member 3 in a manner to permit ball and socket movement of 70 the member 3 while preventing turning of the latter in a plane parallel to the flange 2. A gear shift lever 8 is secured to the member 3 by a pin 9 which passes through the lever 8 and seats at either end in the member 3. 75.

An assembly is disposed within and eX- tends through the lever 8 and is movable longitudinally thereof for the purpose of engagement with and disengagement from a gear shift element 10. The assembly comso prises at its lower end a gear shift element engaging member 11 which is connected to a wire or other connecting member 12 which extends through and within the lever. A spring 13 normally maintains the member 11 e5' in engagement with the gear shift element by pressing against the pin 9 at one end and at its opposite end bearing against the element 11. The wire 12 is connected at the upper end of the lever to a handle 16 which is so" provided with a longitudinally extending tubular slot adapted to receive the end of the lever for longitudinal sliding engage ment therewith. A key 17 projecting iny wardly from the lever has sliding engagement in a keyway 18 formed in the portion of the handle which is normally disposed within the lever. The spring 13 normally forces the assembly, including 1the handle, longitudinally downwardly of the lever into the posiion tion illustrated in Fig. 4. The handle is latclied in this position automatically by means of a latch 19 which is pivotally carried by the handle and has an arm 20 Which is normally spring pressed against the lever and into engagement With an opening 21 in the lever.

The handle can be manually Withdrawn longitudinally of the lever and is locked in Withdrawn position by means of a pin 22 carried by the inner portion of the handle and Y adapted to be moved laterally into engagement With a slot 23 in the handle. The cam pin is actuated by means ofa cam lever 24 Which in turn is actuated by a locking device manipulated byfa key 25. f

It willV be noted that means are provided Y indicated at 3() and 31 Which can be actuated by an arm on the member 11 for breaking the ignition circuit coming through the conduits 32 and 33 When the assembly is moved to its Withdrawn position. y

In utilizing the device the handle V16 is moved manually longitudinally of the lever into Withdrawnv position thereby removing the member 11 from engagement with the gear shift element. The key 25 is then turned to lock the cam pin 22 into engagement'vvith the lever. When it is desired to utilize the gear shift lever the cam pin 22 is turned into unlocked position by the key 25 whereupon the force lof the spring 13 normally forces the assembly longitudinally of the lever into operative engagement With the gear shift element in Which position the transversely extending latch 19 is automatically forced into the slot 21 of the lever thereby securing the assembly in its operative po'- sition. i

While' a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described it Will be apparent that modifications can be made therein Within the spirit and scope of the invention and such modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

I claim:

y 1. A transmission locking device comprising a shift lever, an assembly movable longitudinally of the lever to engage with and be Withdrawn from a gear shift element, means for normally forcing the assembly longitudinally of the lever into position for operative engagement with the gear shift element, and a latch operative to automatically secure the assembly longitudinall With respect to the lever in the last mentioned position.

2. A transmission locking device comprising a shift lever, an assembly movable longitudinally of the lever to engage with and be Withdrawn from a gear shift element, means for normally forcing the assembly longitudinally of the lever into operative engagement with the shift element, and a key controlled lock in the assembly including means for securing the lever and assembly relatively when the latter is moved longitudinally of the lever into Withdrawn position With respect to the gear shift element.

3. A transmission locking device comprising-a shift lever, an assembly movable-longitudinally of the lever to engage With and be Withdrawn from a gear shift element, a key controlled lock in the assemblyv adapted to secure the lever and assembly relativelyvvhen the latter is moved longitudinally of the lever into Withdrawn position, and means to automatically secure the assembly and lever relativelywhen the-assembly is moved longitudinally vof the lever into engagement With the gear shift element.

4. A transmission locking device'coinpris-` ing a shift lever, an assembly movable lon,-` gitudinally ofthe lever to engage With and, be Withdrawn from a gear shift element, means for normally forcing the assembly longitudinally of the lever into operative engagement with the shift element, means to automatically securethe assembly and lever relatively When in the last mentioned position, and a key controlled lock in the assembly to secure the lever Vand assembly relatively When the latter is movedlongitudinallyof the lever into Withdrawn position.

5. A transmission locking device comprising a shift lever, an assembly movable longitudinally of the lever to engage with and be Withdrawn from av gear shift element, means for normally forcing the assembly longitudinally of the lever into operative engagement with theV shift element', and a key controlled lock in the assembly to secure the lever and assembly relatively in adjusted position.

6. A transmission locking device comprising a shift lever, an assembly movable longitudinally of the lever to engage with and be Withdrawn from a gear shift element, means for normally forcing the assembly longitudinally of the lever into position for operative engagement With the shift element, and a latch operative to automatically secure the assembly With respect to the lever in adjusted position. A

7 VA vtransmission locking device comprising a tubular yshift lever, an assembly includ'- ing'a handle movable longitudinally of the lever to engage With and be Withdrawn from ya gear shift element, and a key controlled lock including means operable to secure Ythe handle andlever relatively in adjusted position fromvvithin the lever.

8. A transmission locking. device comprising a shift lever,"an assembly including a handle movable longitudinally of the lever to engage with and be Withdravvnfrom a gear shift element, the handle having a'slot to receive thefendofv the shift lever, anda key controlled lock including a member'operable to project from the portion of the handle Within the lever into engagement With the lever to lock the same.

9.* A transmission locking device comprising a shift lever, an assembly movable longitudinally of the lever to engage With and be Withdrawn from a gear shift element, means for normally forcing the assembly longitudinally of the lever into operative engagement With the shift element, means manually releasable eXteriorly of the lever for automatically securing the assembly and lever relatively When the assembly is moved longitudinally of the lever into engagement with the gear shift element, and a key controlled lock to secure the assembly and lever relatively in adjusted position.

l0. A transmission locking device comprising a tubular shift lever, an assembly movable longitudinally of the lever to engage with and be Withdrawn from a gear shift element, the assembly including a handle having a tubular slot Which adjustably receives the end of the lever, and a key controlled lock operable to lock the portion of the handle enclosed by the lever into fixed relation longitudinally with respect thereto.

11. A transmission locking device comprising a tubular shift lever7 an assembly movable longitudinally Within the lever to engage With and be Withdrawn from a gear shift element, means for normally forcing the assembly longitudinally of the lever into operative engagement with the shift element, the assembly including a handle having a tubular slot therein Which receives the end of the lever, and a key controlled lock operable to secure the portion of the handle enclosed b the lever in fixed relation to the lever W en the assembly is in Withdrawn position.

12. A transmission locking device comprising a shift lever, an assembly movable longitudinally of .the lever to engage With and be Withdrawn from a gear shift element, means for normally forcing the assembly longitudinally of the lever into position for operative engagement With the gear shift element, and a latch extending transversely of the lever operative to automatically secure the assembly longitudinally With respect to the lever in the last mentioned position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature this 6th day of August, 1928.

ANTHONY R. SMITH. 

